For over 18 years the Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) has been changing the trajectory of the lives of many young South Africans. Through a partnership with participating unions, the trust has used education as a pathway for union members and their beneficiaries to access post-graduation opportunities.

Funding for the OMET initiatives is sourced from unclaimed shares in Old Mutual that have been allocated to the trust, which manages the dividends on behalf of its member trade unions. Since its inception, the trust has produced over 400 graduates. From the latest cohort of graduates, 10 graduated from the North-West university (NWU).

To celebrate their graduates, OMET hosts a formal dinner annually, with their partner unions and parents accompanying their children. The glitzy event, fit for the stars, was held at the Gautrain Radisson Blu. Speaking during the event, the head of OMET, Leonie said: “Today we have 43 graduates, degrees are across the spectrum … engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, psychologists. There is a wide range”.

Mokete Kekana, who was classified as a "missing middle" student while at the NWU, said she often faced numerous exclusions, when trying to access financial support from bursary providers. "OMET was a light at the end of the tunnel when I did not have hope for furthering my studies." On behalf of the NWU graduates, she thanked the trustees and union members. Kekana is currently completing an internship with Old Mutual in their Knowledge and Insight Department.

Three of the NWU graduates attained their qualifications with distinctions (cum laude).

OMET's student support officer, Nkqubela Ntloko, who walked the journey with the graduates, said: “It has been greatly fulfilling to play an essential role in helping students succeed academically, socially and emotionally while pursuing their respective degrees.”

OMET’s ten partner unions are as follows:

• The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)
• The National Teachers Union (NATU)
• The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU)
• The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
• The Professional Educators Union (PEU)
• The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU)
• The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU)
• The South African Communications Union (SACWU)
• The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU)
• The Finance Union (SASBO)

Attendees of the Old Mutual Education Trust formal dinner